Draw sheet stretcher



Jan. 23, 1968 E. A. HALE DRAW SHEET STRETCHER Filed April 25, 1966 INVENTOR. EDITH A. HALE ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,364,506 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DFSCLUSURE A draw sheet stretcher having three sections, a middle section and a side section as Wide as the middle section attached to each longitudinal margin of the middle section. The margins are designed to accommodate stretcher poles as are transverse end margins of the middle section. Complementary fastening means are secured to the side sections so that said sections can be alternatively used to tuck underneath the mattress of a bed or in combination as a double full width blanket secured about the body of a patient when the combination is in use as a stretcher. The poles are removable from the sheet by simple sliding maneuver from marginal slots in the middle section of the sheet.

This invention relates to hospital furnishings and in particular to devices for supporting and protecting hospital patients on their beds as well as to devices for transporting patients from their beds to other points about the hospital premises.

It is well known that many hospitals in the country are ill equipped to cope with fire emergencies. In almost all hospitals, for example, there is a dearth of stretchers to carry non-ambulatory patients in the event of emergency. Then, too, the use of a stretcher requires that the patient be lifted up from his bed and bodily placed on the stretcher which always presents some risk to the patient.

In general, the present invention contemplates means for converting an article found in every hospital bedroom to a stretcher the use of which as such will obviate the need for direct contact with the patient for the purpose of raising him from his bed and placing him aboard a separate body transporting device. This article is ordinarily known as a draw or cross sheet which is the con ventional hospital bed sheet immediately underlying the patient. Provision is made for removably securing to the sheet stretcher poles which extend beyond its confines on both ends thereof for use by stretcher bearers. Further, it is though desirable to provide additional poles extending between and attachable to the stretcher poles for security reasons.

One object of the invention is to provide a body stretcher convertible from a conventional draw sheet which has particular utility in hospitals and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be perceived by persons skilled in the art on reading the following specification of one embodiment thereof which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the convertible draw sheet on a bed.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail of a corner of the draw sheet showing the stretcher pole securing means.

FIG. 4 is a view of the reverse side of the draw sheet.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a draw sheet r having a double layer middle section 12 and side sections 14 extending from each side thereof for tucking under the mattress at the sides of a bed in ordinary use.

At each corner of the middle section 12, two apertures are formed in the bottom layer of the double layer section each communicating with the space between the layers so that stretcher poles 18 and 20 can be inserted, as shown, between the two layers extending longitudinally beyond the sheets on each side thereof and support poles 21 and 23 may also be disposed at each end between the two layers crossing over the stretcher poles to afford greater rigidity to the converted stretcher and to assume some of the weight on the stretcher poles to prevent its tearing due to the patients Weight on. the draw sheet. Along the longitudinal edges of the middle section the bottom layer is stitched to the top layer by a double row of stitching to form a channel or sleeve for the stretcher poles. For strengthening purposes the top layer is folded under at the side, top and bottom edges of the draw sheet, the resulting hem 31 being double stitched. Further, twill tape 27 is stitched by a triple row of stitching to the top and bottom edges of the bottom layer in the middle section 12 being heavily stitched thereto particularly about the corner apertures through which th poles protrude where tearing is most likely to occur. There is also sewn to the underside of the draw sheet across the central area thereof, a two inch wide twill tape 22 which serves to support the heavy part of the patients body.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the stretcher and support poles are apertured near their end portions and the apertures in the stretcher poles and in the cross support poles are adapted to be placed in registry so as to re ceive dowel pins 28 to prevent relative movement between the poles and thus afford greater rigidity and security during portage. The dowel pins are easily inserted and removed. Removal may be necessary as the patient is being carried due to the fact that a narrow passageway, entrance or stairway may be encountered and it may be necessary to remove the cross support poles temporarily to permit continuing passage.

The side sections 14 and 16 are folded under and sewn along their free borders and female snap fastener members 29 are sewn to the border folds of side section 14 and matching male snap fastener member 30 are provided in the borders of the top surface of side of other section 14. While in use as a bed covering the side sections of the draw sheet are tucked under the mattress and on its conversion to a Stretcher these sections may be folded over the patient and secured by the snap fasteners to serve as a blanket and as some protection in extreme conditions against smoke inhalation by the patient.

Both the stretcher and support poles are hollow and serve as a storage for the dowel pins. They are capped at one end 32 to prevent loss of the pins. The poles should, of course, be immediately available at all times and should preferably be maintained by some wall holders in upright condition near the bed so that the conversion can be effected easily and expeditiously Various modifications may be made in this invention by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle thereof as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A draw sheet stretcher comprising a sheet for-med in three sections, two side sections and a. middle section, each side section being at least as wide transversely as said middle section there being provided in each of the four edges of said middle section a slot, a stretcher pole removable from each slot extending beyond the confines of the stretcher, each of said poles being thus removable References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Blank 5-82 Crump 582 McMurray 5334 X Fash 582 4 2,980,169 4/1961 Campbell 5334 X 3,273,177 9/1966 Newton 5335 3,284,816 11/1966 Laubsch 581 FOREIGN PATENTS 554,3 66 6/1943 Great Britain. 806,600 12/1956 Great Britain.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

